Panel Asks if LoP Covered Under Bail-Based Removal Law

New Delhi: A parliamentary joint committee on Wednesday discussed whether the office of the Leader of Opposition, a statutory post, would fall within the ambit of a proposed law that seeks to remove the Prime Minister or Chief Ministers from office if they fail to secure bail within a month of arrest in serious criminal cases.

According to sources, several members sought clarity on whether the proposed provisions would also apply to the Leader of Opposition in the event of arrest on grave criminal charges and failure to obtain bail within the stipulated period. An Opposition member strongly argued for inviting leaders of political parties not represented on the joint committee to present their views on the three draft legislations. However, a section of committee members did not agree with this suggestion.

The Joint Committee, chaired by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, is examining the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill. On Wednesday, the panel heard submissions from Dinesh Maheshwari, chairman of the Law Commission of India, and other legal experts.

Vice-Chancellor of the National Law University, G.S. Bajpai, and vice-chancellor of Hyderabad-based National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Sri Krishna Deva Rao, also appeared before the committee. The Opposition members on the 31-member panel include Supriya Sule, Asaduddin Owaisi, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and S. Niranjan Reddy.

The Congress, Trinamul Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT) and AAP have declined to participate in the committee, arguing that the proposed Bills violate the fundamental legal principle that an individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Speaking to reporters, Aparajita Sarangi said that experts who appeared before the committee on Wednesday have been asked to submit their views in writing for further examination.